Deputy's accused killer pleads not guilty to all charges

The Augusta man who allegedly shot and killed an Oneida County sheriff’s deputy on June 7 is now being treated for depression, according to public defenders.

Christian Patterson, 40, was in Oneida County Court Friday and pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder; two counts of attempted aggravated murder, all felonies; fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor; and second-degree harassment, a violation.

A trial date has been set for Monday, Dec. 5.

In the courtroom Friday, Patterson appeared in an orange jail-issued jumpsuit with a black cast that covered his left hand and wrist. Patterson walked with a noticeable limp, which his public defender Frank Nebush Jr. said is a result of injuries suffered the night of the incident.

The shooting happened after deputies fired less-than-lethal hard-foam rounds at Patterson after a six-hour standoff in which Patterson would not leave his garage at his Knoxboro Road residence.

Nebush has said the suspect believed he was being hit by lethal rounds so he fired back. That was when Deputy Kurt Wyman was killed and two other deputies almost were struck. Law enforcement then returned fire and struck the suspect numerous times.

“You saw how he came across today, he speaks very slowly, it takes a while for him to formulate his thoughts and that’s all from the medication and his injuries,” Nebush said. “Present time he is very depressed and is being treated for depression as well as his injuries.”

Patterson spent more than a month at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica recovering from his wounds. He is now being held at Oneida County jail.

Members of Wyman’s family and off-duty sheriff’s personnel attended the proceeding Friday.

“It certainly is something that resounds deeply and affects greatly the members of law enforcement so their presence today is certainly no surprise and is encouraging,” Oneida County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Coluzza said.

The prosecution will ask for the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, Coluzza said.

Wyman’s family left the courtroom without making themselves available for comment.

Sherrill man who killed six-year-old says 'Jesus made him do it ...

SHERRILL - The man accused of stabbing his young daughter of his girlfriend to death last week said that "Jesus made him do it," according to his lawyer public.

30 years, David L. Trebilcock Primo Ave Sherrill appeared in City Court Friday morning in the case of the death of six years, Lauren Belius. Trebilcock is accused of stabbing to death in his room Belius July 19, while her twin sister slept nearby and his mother was down the hall.

Outside the court, Oneida County Chief Public Defender Frank Nebush shed some light on potential client's mental state at the time of the murder. Nebush said “It was basically that Jesus made him do this, and that normally when I've handled cases where someone has paranoid schizophrenia, there's usually some religiosity involved with that."

Nebush added that Trebilcock isn't “mentally right”, and hasn't been for some time. He says his client has had on and off mental issues, but was not sure if he has ever received treatment.

During the hearing, Judge Neal Rose granted Nebush’s request for an exam to determine if Trebilcock will be competent enough to stand trial. Two doctors will examine him and issue a report to the court. The doctors will try to determine if Trebilcock understands the charge against him.   Do you think people with mental illness should be forced to stand trial like any other defendant?

Trebilcock  faces a charge of second degree murder  for killing Belius by stabbing her repeatedly with a large kitchen knife. Her mother, Alison Belius, reportedly had to force her way through a barricaded bedroom door to try to save her daughters, and injured Trebilcock by stabbing him in the back. Trebilcock  also injured himself by slitting his own wrists , and was hospitalized for several days before he was released to police custody for arraignment earlier this week.

The case was adjourned until August 21. Official say the exams can take a month to complete. If convicted, Trebilcock could get up to 25 years to life in prison.

About a half dozen protestors lined up outside the courthouse Friday morning and voiced their displeasure at Trebilcock as he exited the building. Signs and yells calling him a "child killer" could be seen and heard as he drove away in police custody.

Coincidentally, Nebush is also the public defender for 41 years, Christian Patterson, who is accused of fatally shooting Oneida County Deputy Kurt Wyman in a stalemate at home to Patterson on June 7. Patterson was also in court Friday for arraignment.

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